Concrete-block machine



D. TORRICELLI.

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1921.

1 403 925 Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

INVENTOR.

BY I

MWATTORNEY.

Z3 z a 111 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DECIO TORRICELLI, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONCRETE-BLOCK MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DEOIO TORRIOELLI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Concrete Block Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for making concrete blocks, and more especially hollow interlocking blocks for use in chimney construction, and consists generally in a suitable supporting frame provided with upstanding side pieces, an angular element pivotally connected with said frame and provided with a pivotallyconnected or hinged member, an independent member receivable on said angular element, and a-core, all being of special construction, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable in order to render the machine complete in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a comparatively inexpensive machine, which is suitable in construction and operation, for making hollow concrete blocks provided on the top and bottom respectively with flanges or beads and grooves.

The blocks which are made in this machine are provided with interlocking or interengaging parts to assist in retaining said blocks in position when erected into a structure. These interengaging parts consist of a bead on the top and a groove in the bottom of each block, which bead and groove are the counterparts of each other superficially, so that the bead on one block fits the groove in the bottom of the block above. The relative positions of the bead and groove might, of course, be changed.

Another object of my invention is to produce a machine, of the class described above, which is strong and durable, convenient, capable of producing blocks that are uniform in their dimensions, of the required shape, and having even and smooth surfaces, and with which such blocks can be produced with reasonable expedition.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan; 17, 192

1921. Serial No. 468,687.

-trated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure l is a perspective view of'a machine which embodies a practical form of my invention, showing a finished block thereon in readiness to be removed therefrom; Fig. 2, a central, vertical, longitudinal section through said machine, showing the necessary disposition of the parts to form the mold into which the cement is poured to produce the block, and a block that has just been completed, and, Fig. 8, a detail of one of the latches.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

A block, such as this machine is adapted to turn out, is represented at 1. This block is rectangular and has a rectangular central opening 2 therein. Surrounding the opening 2 on top of the block 1 is a bead 3, and surrounding such opening on the bottom of said block is a groove, the latter being represented at 4 in Fig. 2. The bead, 3 and groove 4 correspond in shape and size with each other.

The supporting elements, which constitute the frame of the machine, comprise side pieces 55 that are adapted to rest on the floor, together with such b ace and stay members as may be needed. Rising from the side pi cos 5, adjacent to one end thereof, is a pair of plates 6. These plates are rigidly connected with the side pieces 5, and are connected near their upper ends by a rigidly attached bar '5, which bar is on what may be termed the front edges of said plates. The plates 6 form the sides of the mold. Secured to the outside faces of the plates 6, near the top thereof and projecting rearwardly therefrom, is a pair of notched keepers 8 for a pair of latches 9, which latter will presently be described. Secured to the outside of each side piece 5, behind the at tached plate 6 and rising above the top of such side piece, is a lug 10.

A .arge flat member 11 and a small or narrow flat member 12 are rigidly connected with each other by an angle-iron 13. The angle-iron 18 has at each end a pivot llwhich is journaled in one of the lugs 10. On the underside of the member 11 is a bar 18 that is adapted to rest on the top edges of the side pieces 5, when said memberis in a horizontal position and thus support the parts and members above. A flat member is receivable on the member 11, with one edge of the former in contact with the member 12. A flat member 16 has one edge hinged at 17 to the free edge of the member 12.

The plates 6, and the members 11, 12, 1'5, and 16 are all rectangular, and the distance between said plates is equal to one dimension of each of said members, so that the latter can be received between the plates,

' although the member 11 does not enter there between, as will presently appear, and, when said members 12, 15 and 16 are in position between said plates, the space bounded by the plates, the members 15 and 16, the member 12, and the plane of the top edges of the plates is equal to the superficial area of the block 1. The aforesaid members may be turned on the pivots 10 to locate the members l2,'15,-and 16 between the plates 6, or they may be turned on'said pivots until the bar 18 rests on top of the side pieces 5. The member 11, when swung into a vertical position, is located with its front face flush.

with the rear edges of the plates 6.-

Each latch 9 is pivotallyattached at 19 to the under side of the bar 18 adjacent to one end thereof, and said latch is so positioned and proportioned that, when the member 11 is in the vertical position, the

latch can be swung outwardly into the notch in the adjacent keeper 8, thus preventing the upstanding members from swinging rearwardly on the pivots 10. The bar'7 prevents the upstanding members from being swung forwardly beyond the perpendicular. The members 11, 12,15, and 16 may respectively be termed the rear frame, the bottom supporter plate, the removable frame, and

front frame 16 is a groove 23 which corresponds with the bead 3 on said block.

The core 21 is preferably hollow and may be provided with an interior handle 24. The sides of the core 21 usually taper slightly to facilitate the removal of the cor e from the block.

The complete operation of the machineis described as follows: The removable frame 15 being in place on the back frame 11 and with one edge in contact with the bottom plate 12, said members are turned upwardly and rearwardly on the pivots 1 1, said removable frame and bottom plate, also the front frame 16, passing in between the side plates 6. The bottom plate 12 is now in ahorizontal position between the side plates 6 at the lower edges thereof, and forms the bottom of the mold, of which said side plates form the sides; the front frame 16 is perpendicular to said bottoin plate, to what is now the front edge of said last-named plate. Said front frame is hinged at'17, and between said side plates, with the upper part of said frame in contact with the bar 7, and forms the front of said mold; the back frame 11 is also perpendicular to said bottom plate, to what is now the rear edge of said last-named plate said rear frame is rigidly attached, and the latter is secured in place by means ofthe latches 9 and the keepers 8; and the removable frame 15 rests with what is now its lower edge on said bottom pl'ate,'is in contiguity with said back frame, but between said side plates, and forms the actual back side of said mold. The mold is now complete except for the core 21 which is subsequently introduced. Cement is poured into the open top of the mold until the level of the cement approximates the level of the openings '20 in the frames 15 and 16, when the core 21 is inserted in said openings after passing through the openings 20 in the frame 11. The'core 21 is introduced from behind and with its smaller end leading, for the reason which will presently appear. The mold is then filled around and over the-core 21 with the cement until the latter is flush with the edges of said core at the open top thereof. The cement in the mold fills the groove 23 in the front frame 16 and is displaced by the bead 22 011 the removable frame 15. The pouring operation being completed, the latches 9 are disengaged fromthekeepers 8, the mold, without, of course, the side plates 6, but including the core-21,..and with the: cement block 1 which has just been formed, 7 is turned downwardly and rearwardly on the pivots 14 until the bar 18 comes to rest on 21 is'forced downwardly through the openings 20 in the frames'll, 15, and 16, and the opening 2 in the block 1, said frame 16 is swung upwardly and forwardly on its hinge 17 into a vertical position, and said frame 15 with the block thereon is removed from said frame 11 and placed where said block is permitted to become dry'and hard, In the event the block 1 be su'fliciently hard in the first place, the same may be lifted off of the frame 15 and the latter left on the frame 11. The frames 16 and 15 have produced the bead 3 and groove 4 in the top and bottom, respectively, of the block 1, so that said block iscomplete. When the movable mold members with the block are. swung rearwardly and downwardly onto the side pieces 5 behind the side plates 6', the smaller end of the core 21 is uppermost, and due to this fact, and to the further fact that said core is exteriorly tapered, the same can be forced out of the block and through the frames 16, 15,

and 11 in a downward direction without difficulty.

Upon restoring the removable frame 15 to position on the back frame 11, or placing on said last-named frame another removable frame, reforming the mold, by swinging the parts and members that are directly and indirectly connected pivotally with the lugs 10 into operative position relative to the side plates 6, and fastening said parts and mem bers with the latches 9, the machine is ready for the construction of another block.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this machine may be made, without departin from the spirit of my invention or eXcee ing the scope of what is claimed.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a machine for making hollow concrete blocks with supporting members provided with fixed side pieces, of rigidly and permanently connected members forming a back frame and a bottom plate, said last-named members being pivotally connected, adjacent to the angle which they form with each other, with said supporting members, a front frame having one edge pivotally connected with the free longitudinal edge of said bottom plate, said frames and bottom plate being adapted to be swung into position to form with said side plates a mold, and said frames having openings therein, and a core receivable in such openings and adapted to extend from the outer face of the back frame to the outer face of the front frame.

2. The combination, in a machine for making hollow concrete blocks with supportin members provided with fixed side plates, of rigidly and permanently connected members forming a back frame and a bottom plate, said last-named members being pivota ly connected, adjacent to the angle which they form with each other, with said supporting members, a front frame having one edge pivotally connected with the free longitudinal edge of said bottom plate, a removable frame carried by said back frame and bottom plate, said frame and bottom plate being adapted to be swung into position to form with said side plates a mold, and said frames having openings therein, and a core receivable in such openings and adapted to extend from the outer face of the back frame to the outer face of the front frame.

3. The combination, in a machine for making hollow concrete blocks with supporting members provided with fixed side plates, of rigidly and permanently connected members forming a back frame and a bottom plate, said last-named members being pivotally connected, adjacent to the angle which they form with each other, with said supporting members, a front frame having one edge pivotally connected with the free longitudinal edge of said bottom plate, a removable frame carried by said back frame and bottom plate, said front and removable frames and bottom plate being adapted to form, with said side plates, a mold, and all of said frames having openings therein, and said removable frame and front frame being provided in their adjacent faces with means to make impressions in and on the molded block, and a core receivable in said openings and adapted to extend from the outer face of the back frame to the outer face of the front frame.

4:. The combination, in a machine for making hollow concrete blocks with supporting members provided with fixed moldforming side plates, of rigidly and permanently connected members forming a back frame and a bottom plate for the mold, said last-named members being pivotally connected, adjacent to the angle which they form with each other, with said supporting members, and said back frame having projections to rest behind said pivotal points on said supporting members, a front moldforming frame pivotally connected with the free longitudinal edge of said bottom plate, a removable mold-forming frame having one edge adapted to be carried by said back frame and bottom plate, all of said frames having openings therein, and a core receivable in such openings.

5. The combination, in a machine for making hollow concrete blocks with supporting members provided wit-h fixed moldforming side plates, said plates having at their rear edges latch keepers, of rigidly and permanently connected members forming a back frame and a bottom plate for the mold, said last-named members being pivotally connected, adjacent to the angle which they form with each other, with said supporting members, and said back frame having projections to rest behind said pivotal points on said supporting members, a front mold-forming frame having one edge pivotallv connected with the free longitudinal edge of said bottom plate, a removable mold-forming frame adapted to be carried by said back frame and bottom plate, all of said frames having openings therein. a core receivable in such openings and adapted to extend from the outer face of the back frame to the outer face of the front frame, and latches on the back frame to engage said keepers and fasten said frames in an upright position.

DECIO TORRICELLI. lVitnesses F. A. CUTTER, C. C. WEST. 

